Thursday, September 20, 2007

Elitist?

Because Christians believe Jesus is the way, critics and skeptics often consider them elitist or presumptuous. However, Christians aren’t making this up. It is based on what Scripture tells us (see previous posting for examples). If you don’t believe in Scripture, then that’s your prerogative. But I suggest that those who don’t buy it should not be so intolerant of those who do. Unfortunately those who preach the loudest about tolerance, the premier virtue of the new religion of political correctness, are also the most intolerant of those who don’t think as they do.

Others criticize God, saying they can’t believe in a God that would condemn somebody to hell. The point here is that God has actually given us an easy way to avoid our rightful punishment. It’s so easy that many can’t believe it, and so ignore it. Others would rather indulge in the temporary pleasures of this world and thus forgo an eternity in heaven. God doesn’t condemn us – we doom ourselves. God made the rules and provides the means of salvation – it’s up to us, who have free will, to make the decision.

For example, God made the laws of the universe, such as the law of gravity. If we jump off a tall building, the law of gravity takes effect and we will die when we hit the ground. God also made the spiritual laws, which we find spelled out in the Bible. Just as we take the physical laws seriously, we should take God’s spiritual principles seriously as well.

I admit that some Christians are rather obnoxious about their faith, condemning those who don’t believe. It’s not our job to condemn, only to point the way. God’s Holy Spirit will work within a person to move them closer to God (called in some traditions “prevenient grace”). We can choose to ignore the Holy Spirit or we can choose to obey. We have free will. If you have been ignoring the Spirit’s call, I encourage you to respond by attending a church and finding out what all this is about. The more you learn, the more you will be convinced that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.